My friend Olle loves to leave me with a memory every time I visit Gimmelwald. Last time, we harnessed up and did the via ferrata (Italian for “iron way”), a 3-hour trek across the cliff between Mürren and Gimmelwald. This time it was tandem paragliding over the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Make hay while the sun shines…and if you’re in a hurry, hire a helicopter. It costs a Swiss farmer about $3000 an hour to haul hay. Watching this, I was struck by how fast they worked…but at $50 a minute, it made sense. What surprised me was that hay would be worth it. Enjoy your cheese.

I love the Swiss Alps. But I also love the great Swiss cities: Zurich, Bern, Lausanne, and Luzern. Here’s a quick peek at Luzern—locals leaping into their river, wooden bridges complete with centuries-old paintings, a snowcapped Alpine backdrop, and an inspirational urbanity.

For years as a tour guide, I had a love-hate relationship with sleeping on the Rhine—great towns...but hotels over-looking the train tracks with trains rampaging through all night. But now it’s four panes of modern glass and when a thunderous train screams by the building rumbles…you hear nothing.

It’s easy to put down Mykonos and Santorini for crowds and high prices, but I came away from this year’s research liking both even more. Here’s a moment of Mykonos bliss…two boys lost in friendship, sharing a moment oblivious to everything but their soccer ball.

You’ll find three basic categories of Greek beaches: fancy beaches with $50-a-day chair and umbrella rentals, family-friendly beaches in town, and secluded, undeveloped beaches. Whatever you choose, pack the three essentials: sun hat, sunscreen, and water.

One of the great sights from antiquity is the uninhabited island of Delos, 20 minutes away from Mykonos by shuttle boat. Here’s a look at Delos (and why I much prefer visiting in the early evening, on the last shuttle of the day).   What’s your favorite ancient Greek sight?

Santorini? It’s easy to complain about Santorini…too crowded, touristy, and expensive. But I love it. This clip, during my recent guidebook research trip, shows why. What is your key to enjoying Santorini?

One of the great joys of getting into the traveling groove on the Greek Isles is getting comfortable with the ferries. One warning: the ferries are on a tear to stay on schedule, so move quickly when you hear the call to disembark.

One thing predictable about lesser-known Greek islands (along with a more traditional scene and few tourists) is great rustic restaurants, wonderful Greek salads, and a culture that encourages splitting plates. Here, my guide, Kosta Panagos (on Rhodos), coaches me. Kalí órexi!

I love Vernazza. Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve enjoyed a mindless stroll down my favorite Riviera town anywhere on the Mediterranean, Vernazza. Join me for two minutes of Cinque Terre delight.     This is my favorite piece of Mediterranean coastline — what’s yours?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is no longer at risk of falling down thanks to a herculean and high-tech effort. A highlight for many is to climb the tower — here’s what it’s like.   What bell towers and church towers—without elevators—have you felt are well worth the climb?

Pisa's Piazza of Miracles is an amazing collection of architectural sights (cathedral, baptistry, cemetery, and the bell tower). It has another dimension I find endlessly entertaining: tourists posing for a good photo while instructing friends exactly how to shoot it. (I have fun with this too.)

Palazzo Davanzati is one of Florence’s underrated sights. It’s also an opportunity to appreciate how people lived 600 years ago in Italy. Running water? No…but from the 4th floor, you have bucket access to the cistern well.   What’s your favorite glimpse of medieval life at a European sight?

The Great Collapsible Florence Market We all love Europe’s old town street markets, but where do they go at night? Check out this creative solution in Florence. What late-night observations have you enjoyed in your travels?